Senate to save dental extraction

CHRONICALLY ill patients who are desperate to get expensive
dental care under a popular Medicare scheme before it is shut down
may get a reprieve.

The scheme, introduced last November, provides up to $4250 in
benefits for operations and dentures and has financed more than
100,000 services a month.

Patients and dentists had been advised against beginning
treatment after this week because the Federal Government wanted to
close it and replace it with a less lavish scheme covering more
people.

However, those with chronic disease needing urgent dental work
may be saved by the Senate. The move to axe the program was blocked
by the former Coalition-controlled Senate and there is doubt if the
new Senate will ditch it.

Dentists and the Opposition say the looming closure of the
scheme has created confusion and anxiety among patients hoping to
get treatment they could not previously afford.

The Department of Health's website warns patients and dentists
that, subject to Parliament, the Government "intends to close this
scheme to all patients at the earliest opportunity once Parliament
resumes on August 26".

Yesterday the Government refused to say when it would end the
scheme. Sources in non-government parties said the move was looking
doubtful.

The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, said the replacement scheme,
the Commonwealth Dental Health Program, would be more accessible
and better targeted than the current "failed" scheme that enabled
millionaires to get treatment while pensioners could not have a
toothache treated.

"We will fight against closing off the scheme and we are
confident we have the support of other parties," he said.

The Association for the Promotion of Oral Health has urged
senators to stick with Medicare dental, arguing that the new
Commonwealth scheme will provide only an average of $47 extra a
year for each chronically ill person treated.